Youth fund eases entry by allowing applications without Bipa registration

The government through the National Youth Development Fund has revised its business registration requirements by allowing applicants to apply for funding without Business and Intellectual Property Authority (Bipa) registration documents. This was announced in a media statement on Friday. Successful applicants will only be required to complete their Bipa business registration upon project approval. This, according to the finance ministry, is part of the government’s broader revisions, including raising the age limit from 35 to 45. According to finance ministry executive director Michael Humavindu, this will enhance inclusivity and reflect Namibia’s evolving nature of entrepreneurship. Effective from 1 December, applicants can apply directly at the implementing development finance institutions – the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN), Agricultural Bank of Namibia (Agribank) and the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF). “Upon completion, feedback will be communicated to applicants and consolidated results will be shared with the offices of the regional governors,” Humavindu’s statement reads. A total of 11 475 applications were received during the pilot phase, which ran from 1 August to 4 September, with 42 projects with a value of N$14.78 million approved. “The remaining applications are under review and will be announced monthly,” Humavindu said. The government allocated N$500 million for the fund, with N$257 million already been allocated for the 2025/26 financial year to support youth entrepreneurship, start-ups, apprenticeships and graduate internships.